200 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
\ MarcH 6,189ft 
petals rests in the deep crimson maroon spots so freely yet regu¬ 
larly scattered throughout the greater part of their length, the 
basal half in particular. The margin also bears a number of dark 
rather long hairs, and the petals taper gradually from the base to 
the apex, varying in length from 4 to 6 inches. In the first flower 
I saw they were only 3^ inches long. The lip has a remarkable 
resemblance to C. Stonei, the rosy veining and tinting being perhaps 
a little more strongly marked. 
The plant is of strong growth, and evidently free flowering, as 
shown in the illustration, but some of the collected specimens had 
five flowers on a stem. The leaves are long, broad, and bright 
green, the whole habit of the plant indicating a vigorous constitu¬ 
tion. It will probably be easy of increase and culture, and will be 
prized wherever Cypripediums are admired. The name was 
bestowed in honour of Mr. Elliott of New York.— Lew'is Castle. 
Value of Calantiies. 
There are more brilliant and innumerable choicer Orchids in 
cultivation, but in point of general utility and effect it may fairly 
be assumed that Calanthes stand pre- eminent. This may appear a 
somewhat bold assertion, but I think I can prove the truth of my 
words. In the first place they are at their best any time during 
December, January, and February (I am alluding solely to 
C. Veitchi and C. vestita), they can be utilised in many positions 
with excellent effect, and they remain fresh and bright for several 
weeks, the period naturally varying according to circumstances ; 
added to this they are not expensive, being also easily increased, 
and not difficult to cultivate. A back shelf or a suspended shelf, 
not far from the glass in each case, in an ordinary plant stove or 
forcing house suits them admirably, and with fairly skilful treat¬ 
ment the pots become crowded with roots, stout growths, gradu¬ 
ally developing into fine flowering pseudo-bulbs. Calanthe foliage 
is coarse and unattractive, but fortunately this ripens and falls, or 
is removed some time before the flower spikes are far advanced in 
growth, this admitting of their being most effectively grouped with 
various other plants. We annually flower upwards of 200 bulbs, 
and the greater portion of these are interspersed among Ferns, 
principally Adiantums, as they come into bloom. As a rule they 
are at their best with us somewhat late in the season, or at the end 
of January, when the photograph taken of some of them and sent 
with this to the Editor of the Journal of Horticulture was taken. 
The temperature of this house or fernery as a rule ranges from 55° 
by night to 65° in the daytime, and this suits Calanthes when in 
flower better than either higher temperatures accompanied with 
more moisture or an ordinary greenhouse heat, spotting and damp¬ 
ing quickly resulting when the Calanthes are submitted to either 
extreme. Calanthes are especially valuable for house or room 
decoration, and if not damaged in transit do not suffer much in 
comparatively warm dry rooms for a few days. The C. vestita 
varieties are particularly effective with Maidenhair Ferns on a 
mantel shelf, and associated with C. Veitchi in stands and groups 
generally give an excellent finish to these. Undoubtedly the 
pseudo-bulbs of the “ dark ” or most richly coloured forms of 
C. Veitchi are pecuniarily of more value than C. vestita, but I 
attach the most value to the latter. 
Effective as are the spikes of Calanthes in groups, they are 
even more serviceable in a cut state. A few hours out of water on 
the cloth of a dining table does not injure them. I have frequently 
used them in that way, and they are singularly M'ell adapted for 
vases generally. The less, however, they are mixed with other 
flowers the better, the spikes of C. Veitchi meriting a vase with 
a base of greenery to themselves. Those who may have their 
doubts about the effective appearance this species alone presents 
in a cut state ought to have seen the dining table at Canford 
Manor as prepared by Mr. T. H. Crasp, Lord Wimborne’s gar¬ 
dener, on the first night of the visit of the Prince of Wales 
during the third week in January last. No less than 150 spikes 
of Calanthe Veitchi were used, these being distributed over about 
fourteen rather large and flat silver vases. Eight of the largest 
vases containing the finest spikes were arranged through the 
centre of the long dining table, twelve smaller ones with shorter 
spikes alternating with the dishes of dessert. In each case a 
rather heavy mass of fine fronds of Maidenhair Fern occupied the 
base of the vase, the Calanthes springing from these in a bold and 
free style. Two Kentias and about fifty bunches of Marie 
Louise Violets, the latter in small fish globes, completed this 
most effective table. Fairly compact spikes of C. Veitchi are 
suitable for ladies’ wear, but the most serviceable and attractive 
sprays are best made by wiring each single flower, a mass of these 
3 inches to 4 inches wide and about 8 inches long, backed by fronds 
of Adiantum, being difficult to surpass. The ladies of the Royal 
party at Canford Manor were furnished with sprays thus formed 
on the night the Calanthes were used for table decoration. 
Spikes of vestita are very effective in hand bouquets and 
wreaths, and in sprays backed by coloured or prettily veined Ivy 
leaves are even more attractive.—W. Iggulden. 
[The photograph shows an excellent group of Calanthes and 
Ferns, but the details are too numerous and the size too small to 
admit a satisfactory reproduction as an engraving.] 
Orchids at Thedden Grange, Alton. 
As I was privileged a few days ago to see the Orchids at 
Thedden Grange, I thought a few notes may prove interesting to 
the readers of the Journal. Till within the last two or three 
years Orchids had not been so extensively grown here as they are- 
now. J. G. Wood, Esq., the owner of this beautiful garden, takes 
a lively interest in these plants, to which special attention has been 
directed by the gardener, Mr. Campany, and judging from the 
general appearance and health of the plants his attention has not 
been in vain. The old Coelogyne cristata seems to be specially 
well grown ; thirteen plants were in flower, one in a 12-inch pot, 
with sixty-two spikes and over 300 flowers. Nine of the plants 
were doing duty in the mansion, and had been there for a month, 
and at the time of my visit it was a sight not to be easily forgotten. 
Among those in flower were the following :— 
Arachnanthe Clarki, recently figured in “Bot. Mag.,” 7077 ; 
Dendrobium Ainsworthi, D. aureum, D. Brymerianum, D. 
crassinode, D. densiflorum, D. Farmeri, D. fimbriatum oculatum, 
D. Devonianum, D. Pierardi, D. Pierardi latifolium, D. primulinum 
giganteum, D. nobile, one grand plant in a basket with 103 flowers ; 
D. sulcatum, with eight racemes of eighty-seven blooms; D. 
Wardianum, a fine variety, with pseudo-bulbs 38 inches long, splen¬ 
didly flowered ; Odontoglossum Alexandra, 0. cordatum, O. Cer- 
vantesi, 0. Andersonianum, 0. Harryanum, O. maculatum, 0. 
Pescatorei, 0.Rossi majus,thirteen plants; O.Rossi majusroseum, 
O. Roezli, Cattleya Walkeriana, C. Trianse, Sophronitis grandi- 
flora, Oncidium sphacelatum majus, 266 flowers ; 0. carthaginense, 
Lselia anceps, a well-flowered specimen of a good variety ; Masde- 
vallia Lindeni. Among those showing flower were D. Devonianum, 
D. densiflorum, D. transparens, D. thyrsiflorum, D. suavissimum, 
D. Deari, D. draconis, &c. Other plants are equally well grown at 
Thedden.—H. Coster, Froyle Park Gardens. 
BRUSSELS SPROUT. 
I FULLY endorse what is stated on page 169 by Mr. Thomas respect¬ 
ing this choice vegetable. How many varieties—or rather names of it 
are now to be found in the various catalogues with eloquent descriptions 
as to merits, yet when grown, owing to their monstrosity, are fit only 
for cattle? I have grown some such where there was 12 or 18 inches 
clear stem from the ground to the first formation of sprouts, the few 
which then formed being large and coarse. Where a good strain is 
grown and due attention paid to cultivation, no vegetable is more profit¬ 
able in winter, either for a gentleman’s table or market purposes. This 
I have proved for several years with the strain I grow. I send you a- 
sample (which is only moderate) as showing the character of the 
variety that has never failed to give satisfaction. I always sow in the 
open ground about March, planting when about three rough leaves are 
formed into their permanent quarters in rows 2 feet apart.—T. B., 
Leeds. 
[The sample sent is excellent, the side growths being medium size, 
firm, and crowded on a length of 18 inches of stem. It closely resembles 
specimens that were sent to one of the meetings of the Fruit and 
Vegetable Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society by Mr. A. 
Harding of Orton Longueville, and for which we think he was awarded 
a cultural commendation.] 
GARDENERS OUT OF SITUATIONS. 
I sincerely thank all gardeners who have given their views in the 
Journal of Horticulture respecting gardeners out of situation. I 
should be pleased to join any properly formed society that would assist 
in this matter, but doubt if such a society as is said to exist at Belfast 
could be of much help. The question is. Would employers apply to such 
a society for a gardener ? I fully agree with “ B.” that advertising is- 
one of the best modes of getting a situation ; that is to say, when you 
have not a friend to push you in. Could not something be done by a- 
self help society to make arrangements with some of the leading horti¬ 
cultural papers, and pay so much a year ? then when any deserving 
member who has been in a place for two years and leaves with a good 
character, get permission to advertise two or three times in the usual 
way, and save him paying what is charged in the ordinary way ? Per¬ 
haps some of your readers may be able to say what such a society should 
be, and how to proceed better than I can.— Angus McKinnon, Maclien 
House, Xeioport, Mon, 
[We hear that a project of the nature suggested will shortly be- 
considered by a responsible body with the object of determining its pro¬ 
bable usefulness and practical working. If any of our readers have any 
definite propositions to submit they shall be placed in the hands of a 
Committee that will have the subject under consideration. Vague 
